Purpose and Scope
This policy outlines the commitment of Autistic Community Hub CIC to comply with the provisions and principles of the Equality Act 2010, ensuring equality, fairness and respect for all individuals we serve, employ, or interact with.
Protected Characteristics
We recognise the nine protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
No individual shall be knowingly discriminated against based on these characteristics.
Our Commitment
Direct and Indirect Discrimination
We will ensure that no one faces direct discrimination (being treated worse than another due to a protected characteristic) or indirect discrimination (having a rule or policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages people with a particular protected characteristic).
Harassment
We are committed to preventing harassment related to any protected characteristic. We will ensure a safe environment free from unwanted behaviour that violates an individual’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.
Victimisation
No individual shall be victimised for making a complaint or supporting someone else’s complaint about discrimination based on protected characteristics.
Reasonable Adjustments
For those with disabilities, we will make reasonable adjustments, ensuring wherever possible that they aren’t disadvantaged when accessing our services, facilities or employment.
Recruitment and Employment
We are committed to ensuring fairness in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job reductions and terminations.
We will ensure our practices are non-discriminatory and based solely on merit, competence and job requirements.
Reporting and Resolution
We encourage any member, staff, volunteer or partner facing discrimination, harassment or any violation of this policy to report the incident. We pledge to address such reports promptly, confidentially and fairly.
You can report directly using our form:
Training and Awareness
Autistic Community Hub CIC will conduct training sessions and awareness campaigns as needed to ensure all members, volunteers and staff are informed about the principles of the Equality Act and our commitment to upholding them.
Review
This guidance will be reviewed annually to ensure that it remains effective and aligned with the needs and aspirations of Autistic Community Hub CIC and its community of members, staff, volunteers and partners.
This policy was last updated March 2024.